June 19, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in the Americas, usually posted on Saturdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
A polling station for Peru’s June 6 presidential runoff. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Txolo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Upcoming Americas Elections
Argentina Provincial Elections in Misiones: June 6, 2021 and Jujuy: June 27, 2021, followed by Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021 (postponed from October)
Although most of the country’s 23 provinces hold their elections at the same time as presidential elections (which last took place in 2019 and are due again in 2023), a few are due to hold elections this year, ahead of midterm legislative elections due this fall.
Argentina’s 2021 elections – both provincial and legislative – are happening in the context of an economic crisis, which the leftist government and COVID-19 have exacerbated.
Rosario Ayerdi, Buenos Aires Times (June 19, 2021): Cristina Fernández de Kirchner spearheads midterms campaign – with an eye on libertarian-leaning youth
Haiti Parliamentary Elections: September 19, 2021 and Presidential Election: Due in November 2021 (delays possible)
Haiti plans to hold long-overdue legislative elections on September 19, 2021, and also has a presidential election due later this year. However, the country is currently in a political crisis related to allegations of fraud followed Haiti’s presidential 2015 election. The international community, including the United States government, has called on Haiti’s officials to set a date for elections and end the crisis.
Haiti had planned to hold a constitutional referendum on June 27, although the United States has raised concerns that it would just cause more political turmoil while helping President Jovenel Moïse consolidate power. The opposition has called for protests against the referendum, which it deems unconstitutional, and a boycott. Ultimately, Moïse decided to postpone the referendum indefinitely. More
UN News (June 17, 2021): Political impasse in Haiti, amid rising humanitarian needs, ahead of crucial elections
Chase Harrison, AS/COA (June 17, 2021): Constitutional Crisis and Crime Have Haiti on Edge: President Jovenel Moïse’s constitutional referendum stalled, but he’s found other ways to consolidate political power amid calls for his resignation.
Paraguay Municipal Elections: October 10, 2021
Paraguay holds local elections on October 10, 2021. On June 20, many of the political parties held primary elections. The federal government is led by President Mario Abdo Benítez from the conservative Colorado Party, which also won a majority in the lower house of the legislature in the 2018 elections (no party holds a majority in the Senate). Colorado has been in power most of the time since the 1950s.
Paraguay returned to democracy in 1989, following the collapse of the 35-year dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, but a number of issues remain. As a result, it is rated Partly Free by Freedom House.
The Rio Times (June 20, 2021): Paraguayan parties start elections for candidates for the municipal elections
Nicaragua General Elections: November 7, 2021
Nicaragua holds general elections on November 7, 2021. President Daniel Ortega, who has been in power for 20 years, will seek another term, and under his rule, Nicaragua has become increasingly authoritarian, with rule of law and fundamental freedoms under assault.
Several opposition candidates have been arrested, including Cristiana Chamorro, seen by many as the opposition’s best chance of ousting Ortega (in fact, her mother, Violeta Chamorro, beat Ortega in the 1990 election, becoming Nicaragua’s first – and currently only – female president and ending 11 years of Sandinista rule).
Diego Oré, Reuters (June 17, 2021): Veering from democracy, Nicaragua defies U.S. rebukes
Aline Hipolito, Rio Times (June 16, 2021): U.S. stresses that there are no conditions for “free elections” in Nicaragua
Claudia Torrens, AP (June 15, 2021): OAS condemns Nicaragua’s pursuit of political opponents
Wilfredo Miranda, The Guardian (June 15, 2021): Nicaragua rounds up president’s critics in sweeping pre-election crackdown
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Chile holds presidential and legislative elections in November (with presidential primaries on July 4). These elections follow the May 2021 local elections, and importantly, elections to the Constitutional Assembly.
Incumbent president Sebastian Pinera, from the center-right Chile Vamos coalition, is not running for another term. He currently has low approval ratings, posing a challenge for his party’s candidate (who will be chosen in the July primary election). Moreover, the conservatives failed to secure even one third of the Constitutional Assembly.
These elections are taking place in the context of a year of protests and riots, including violent looting, arson, and vandalism. Furthermore, an intense debate over the new constitution continues. More
Al Jazeera (June 20, 2021): Chile to begin drafting new constitution next month
Stratfor (June 16, 2021): Chile: Congress Reinstates Mandatory Voting for Most Elections
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022 and Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Colombia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in spring 2022. Conservative Ivan Duque, elected president in 2018, is constitutionally barred from running for re-election. One of the frontrunners to replace him is former left-wing guerilla Gustavo Petro, who placed second in 2018. The country has been rocked by riots in recent weeks. The proximate cause was a tax bill, but the protests have grown – and grown violent – and dozens have died.
Sergio Guzmán, Foreign Policy (June 20, 2021): Solutions for Colombia’s Social Unrest Are in Short Supply
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
Brazil holds general elections in October 2022. Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist firebrand president, is up for re-election. Former president Lula da Silva, himself a populist firebrand of the left-wing variety, will run against him. The country remains deeply polarized between right and left, although some are searching for a third candidate to challenge both Bolsonaro and Lula. More
Bryan Harris, Financial Times (June 17, 2021): Brazil’s Covid inquiry puts Bolsonaro on the back foot
Claudia Horn, Jacobin (June 15, 2021): Belém’s Left-Wing Mayor Could Have a Winning Formula for the Brazilian Left
The Economist (June 15, 2021 – podcast): “This is the clearest proof yet Bolsonaro is engaging in pork-barrel politics”—patronage in Brazil
Past Americas Elections
Peru Presidential Runoff: June 6, 2021
Peru held general elections for April 11, 2021. These elections are coming on the heels of snap legislative elections that took place on January 26, 2020, and in the context of political turmoil – including the impeachment of President Martín Vizcarra and the subsequent “week of three presidents” – and an economic crisis brought on by COVID-19.
The presidential runoff pitted self-described Marxist Pedro Castillo against right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who is currently in prison for various crimes (Keiko is also currently facing criminal charges). Castillo came out of nowhere to win the first round. However, none of the 18 candidates received more votes than the number of blank ballots cast – a sign of voters’ deep frustration.
It appears that Castillo won the runoff (by a margin of less than one percent). Fujimori is alleging fraud, but international observers largely dismissed that allegation. Nonetheless, an official winner won’t be declared until the courts rule on Fujimori’s claims. More
Brendan O’Boyle, Americas Quarterly (June 21, 2021): The “Shadowy Figure” Behind Peru’s Likely Next President
Reuters (June 19, 2021): Both sides in Peru’s contested election double down in weekend rallies
Charles Lane, Washington Post (June 15, 2021): Opinion: The tragic decay of a Latin American success story
Mexico Legislative, Gubernatorial, and Local Elections: June 6, 2021
Mexico held high-stakes midterm legislative elections, as well as gubernatorial elections in 15 of Mexico’s 31 states, and local elections, on June 6, 2021. In total, more than 21,000 offices are at stake – the biggest elections in Mexico’s history.
These elections were a key test for left-wing populist firebrand Andrés Manuel López Obrador (frequently called AMLO) ahead of the 2024 presidential election, and he largely lost – his MORENA party did not get its majority in the legislature, and although MORENA won most of the state governorships, it lost control of most areas of Mexico City. AMLO, who has been governing in an increasingly authoritarian manner, wants to transform Mexico by jettisoning the market economy, but these election results will make it harder for him to do that.
Meanwhile, political violence is on the rise, with at least 88 politicians killed and hundreds of candidates targeted. More
Mexico News Daily (June 19, 2021): Women in majority in 10 state legislatures, elected mayor in 25 major cities
Caran Zissis, World Politics Review (June 18, 2021): The Real Winner of Mexico’s Midterm Elections Wasn’t on the Ballot
Vanessa Rubio, Americas Quarterly (June 16, 2021): AMLO Already Got What He Wanted: The loss of his legislative supermajority will not reverse the Mexican president’s progress toward his ultimate goal: the expansion of state power.
Elena Reina, El País (June 14, 2021): The Mariana Rodríguez formula: how to get a candidate elected through social media ‘likes’
Curaçao Parliamentary Elections: March 19, 2021
Curaçao held parliamentary elections on March 19, 2021. Curaçao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has full autonomy over internal affairs, while the Dutch government handles foreign and defense policy, although the Netherlands periodically intervenes in Curaçao’s politics. More
Curaçao Chronicle (June 14, 2021): New Prime Minister of Curaçao Gilmar Pisas wants ‘less Kingdom’
El Salvador Legislative and Local Elections: February 28, 2021
El Salvador held legislative and local elections on February 28, 2021. Allies of populist president Nayib Bukele won in a landslide, allowing him to consolidate his hold on the country with a legislative majority. Critics note growing authoritarianism. More
Marcos Aleman, AP (June 14, 2021): USAID chief speaks of fragility of democracy in El Salvador
Bolivia Local Elections: March 7 and April 11, 2021
Bolivia held regional and municipal elections on March 7, 2021, and some races, including four gubernatorial races, held runoffs on April 11.
These followed a rerun of the 2019 annulled general elections that took place on October 18, 2020 in which socialist Luis Arce won the presidency. Leftist firebrand Evo Morales has returned to the country to lead his party, although apparently not every member of his party loves him. Opposition candidates won the mayoral elections in 8 out of 10 of Bolivia’s biggest cities. These elections happened amid political tension over the arrest of former interim president Jeanine Anez. More
Reuters (June 16, 2021): Bolivia opposition leader Mesa slams widening coup probe
Fernando Molina, El País (June 16, 2021 – in Spanish): Bolivia wants to bring former presidents Jeanine Áñez and Lenín Moreno before an international court
Americas Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Aruba Parliamentary Elections: June 25, 2021
Argentina Jujuy Provincial Elections: June 27, 2021
Argentina Salta Provincial Elections: August 15, 2021 (postponed from July 4, 2021)
Haiti Presidential and Legislative Elections, plus delayed constitutional referendum: September 26, 2021
Paraguay Municipal Elections: October 10, 2021
Saint Lucia General Elections: October 12, 2021
Nicaragua Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 7, 2021
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Honduras Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 28, 2021
Guyana Local Elections: Due in 2021
Costa Rica Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 6, 2022
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022
Colombia Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Bahamas Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Middle East This Week: June 22, 2021
Last Updated: July 8, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 22, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in the greater Middle East and North Africa, usually posted on Tuesdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Middle East Elections
Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections: July 25, 2021
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), part of the Pakistan-administered portion of the disputed region of Kashmir, will hold elections on July 25, 2021. These follow elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, the other part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The elections were originally due by April 2, 2021, but have been delayed.
The region is a geopolitical hotspot. Tensions with India (India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over Kashmir) are growing and both sides are upping their military presence. Moreover, the area is a centerpiece of China’s Belt and Road, which further inflames Pakistan’s relations with India.
Radio Mashaal, RFE/RL (June 23, 2021): Pakistani Expatriates Demand The Right To Vote In Elections
Sumaira FH, UrduPoint (June 22, 2021): AJK Elections, 984 Candidates File Nominations Papers For 45 General Seats.
Iraq Early Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021 (tentative) and Provincial Elections (due)
Iraq’s government had proposed holding snap parliamentary elections on June 6, 2021, one year early, following the demands of protesters. However, the tentative date has been pushed to October. The country is also due to hold provincial (sometimes called governorate) elections. Preparations are taking place in the context of widespread protest and political instability. More
The New Arab (June 21, 2021): Iraq begins early preparation for October general elections
Tim Stickings, The National UAE (June 21, 2021): EU will send election observers to monitor Iraq’s October polls
Chloe Cornish, Financial Times (June 21, 2021): Iraqi activist assassinations create ‘climate of fear’ before elections
The Economist (June 19, 2021): Few things are harder than building a state in Iraq. But hints of progress can be detected
Libya Parliamentary and Presidential Elections: December 24, 2021 (tentative)
Libya’s national elections are overdue and have been postponed indefinitely due to the political crisis and civil war. However, in November 2020, Libyan stakeholders participating in UN-sponsored talks proposed December 24, 2021 for presidential and parliamentary elections. More
Patrick Wintour, The Guardian (June 23, 2021): Libya talks set December date for national elections
Patrick Wintour, The Guardian (June 23, 2021): EU warns anyone judged to be delaying Libya elections will risk sanctions
Gier Moulson, AP (June 23, 2021): Libya conference sees hope on elections, foreign forces
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due)
Lebanon is due to hold general elections in May 2022, although some parties have called for early elections. The country has been in a political crisis and without a government since the port explosion in Beirut, in which 215 people died, 7,500 were injured, and 300,000 were left homeless. Moreover, Lebanon is in an economic crisis.
David Gardner, Financial Times (June 22, 2021): Sanctions could force Lebanon’s politicians to govern: Country is imploding as officials collude in ‘deliberate depression’
Al Jazeera (June 22, 2021): Lebanon raises price of bread for the fifth time in a year
Palestinian Authority Presidential and Legislative Elections: Long overdue, postponed indefinitely
The Palestinian Authority has postponed its long overdue elections for the legislature and president, which had been scheduled for May 22 and July 31, respectively. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is currently in year 16 of a four-year term. Similarly, the last Legislative Council elections took place in 2006.
Since the announcement of the delay, the conflict between Hamas and Israel reignited. Following 11 days of fighting, the parties reached a ceasefire on May 20. More
Khaled Abu Toameh, Jerusalem Post (June 22, 2021): Abbas rivals targeted in ‘unprecedented’ PA crackdown
Past Middle East Elections
Iran Presidential and Local Elections: June 18, 2021
Iran held its next presidential election on June 18, 2021, with concurrent local elections. While Iran is far from a free country, and the elections are largely rigged, voters have in the past had a degree of choice. However, this year’s election was even more rigged than usual. The Guardian Council (which must approve all candidacies) allowed seven candidates on the ballot and mostly excluded moderates and establishment figures, among them a number of prominent names. This seemed to be calculated to clear the way for hardline judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi to win, and he did in fact win. More
Dara Conduit, Atlantic Council (June 23, 2021): Predicting the predictable: What do pre-election polls tell us about Iran’s election?
Editorial Board, Washington Post (June 21, 2021): Opinion: Iran’s election reveals a weakening but ruthless regime
AP (June 19, 2021): Hard-Line Judiciary Head Wins Iran’s Presidency Amid A Low Turnout
Al Jazeera (June 18, 2021): Iran’s election: By the numbers
Vivian Yee and Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times (June 17, 2021): Many Expected to Shun Iran Vote Seen as Presidential Race of One: An ultraconservative judiciary chief appears to have the only real chance of winning after a council of powerful clerics disqualified virtually all the other viable candidates.
Algeria Snap Legislative Elections: June 12, 2021, followed by local elections later this year
Algeria held snap elections on June 12, 2021, following more than two years of protests by the Hirak movement. However, the government’s election plan did not actually satisfied the Hirak, who boycotted the elections and continue to protest. The absence of the Hirak, who are mostly secular, from the elections has paved the way for Islamist parties to become the main opposition. Ultimately, the FLN, the country’s long-dominant nationalist secular party, won the elections.
AFP (June 22, 2021): Dozens in Algeria face charges over polling day violations: ministry
Liam Scott, Voice of America (June 22, 2021): Algeria Revokes France 24 Accreditation as Pressure on Media Mounts
Abdelkader Cheref, The Arab Weekly (June 21, 2021): Algeria’s election: A stagnant political system detached from society
Stratfor (June 18, 2021): Algeria’s First Post-Bouteflika Ballot Leaves His Party in Power
Africanews/AFP (June 17, 2021): Algeria’s Islamist MSP party ”very satisfied” with election results
Syria Presidential Election: May 26, 2021
Syria held its presidential election for May 26, 2021. The election happened the context of Syria’s ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis. Elections under the regime of Bashar al-Assad are widely considered to be a sham. More
Samy Akil, ASPI’s The Strategist (June 22, 2201): Syria’s multi-purpose election
Israel Parliamentary Elections, Take 4: March 23, 2021
On March 23, 2021, Israel held its fourth general election in two years after the collapse of the unity government of Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. Neither Netanyahu’s allies nor his opponents won a majority. Netanyahu, whose conservative Likud party won the most seats, had the first chance to form a coalition, but he failed. Subsequently,Yair Lapid from the centrist Yesh Atid formed a broad coalition with conservative Naftali Bennett, with Bennett as prime minister for a time before rotating the position to Lapid. A number of other parties are in the coalition, which passed a Knesset vote on June 14, thus ending Netanyahu’s 12 years in office. More
Isabel Kershner, New York Times (June 21, 2021): Fight Over a Gentle Stream Distills Israel’s Political Divide
AP (June 20, 2021): Netanyahu To Leave Prime Minister’s Residence By July 10
The Economist (June 20, 2021): Naftali Bennett’s new Israeli government has its work cut out
Haviv Rettig Gur, Times of Israel (June 18, 2021): Netanyahu knows he’s no victim of election fraud. So why peddle the claim?
Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post (June 17, 2021): What do Bennett’s first 100 hours say about his gov’t going forward?
Middle East Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections: July 25, 2021
Jordan Local and Gubernatorial Elections: August 2021 (due)
Morocco Legislative, Provincial, and Local Elections: September 8, 2021
Iraq Parliamentary Elections: October 10, 2021
Qatar Shura Council Elections: October 2021 (proposed)
Libya Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: December 24, 2021
Lebanon Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due)
Bahrain Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Algeria Local Elections: November 2022 (due – earlier elections possible)
Egypt Local Elections: Due and discussed, but not scheduled
Oman Municipal Elections: Due, but postponed due to COVID-19
Palestinian Authority Presidential and Legislative Elections: Long overdue, postponed yet again, no date set
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Africa This Week: June 21, 2021
Last Updated: July 7, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 21, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Africa, usually posted on Mondays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Africa Elections
Ethiopia General Elections: June 21, 2021
Ethiopia will hold general elections on June 21, 2021, after several postponements. These elections are taking place in the context of increasing ethnic violence that has reached crisis levels. More
Ayenat Mersie, Reuters (June 21, 2021): Ethiopians vote as opposition alleges some irregularities
Max Bearak, Washington Post (June 21, 2021): Ethiopia’s historic election overshadowed by a cascade of crises and conflict
Declan Walsh, New York Times (June 21, 2021): From Nobel Hero to Driver of War, Ethiopia’s Leader Faces Voters
Birtukan Midekssa, The National Interest (June 20, 2021): Ethiopia’s Elections: A New Life for an Old Hope – The Ethiopian elections are an imperfect step in the right direction.
The Economist (June 16, 2021): Why has civil war returned to Ethiopia?
São Tomé and Príncipe Presidential Election: July 18, 2021
São Tomé and Príncipe (frequently called STP) holds a presidential election on July 18, 2021. Since the end of Marxist one-party rule in 1991, São Tomé and Príncipe has held regular elections with peaceful transfers of power, and is generally considered a free democracy. More
LUSA (June 21, 2021 – in Portuguese): Nearly 110,000 voters registered for July 18
Zambia General Elections: August 12, 2021
Zambia has scheduled general elections for August 12, 2021. Zambia used to be a model democracy in the region, with regular, competitive elections and a vibrant civil society. However, under Edgar Lungu, elected in 2015 to complete the term of Michael Sata (who died in office), Zambia began to regress toward authoritarianism. The 2016 elections were marred by political violence and allegations of vote-rigging but ultimately judged credible. However, there are fears that Lungu could try to rig the 2021 elections. More
Jeff Kapembwa, Southern Times (June 18, 2021): Violence mars Zambia poll campaigns
Chris Mfula, Reuters (June 18, 2021): Zambia’s founding president, Kenneth Kaunda, dies aged 97
The Economist (June 18, 2021): Kenneth Kaunda was a bad Zambian leader but a great ex-president: The founding president led his country to ruin, but set a model in relinquishing power
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021, Ekiti and Osun State Gubernatorial Electons; June 18 and July 16, 2022, followed by Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 23, 2023
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, holds elections in February 2023, but potential candidates have already begun jockeying for position. Since the return to civilian rule, vote-rigging and violence have plagued elections. While the 2015 polls – which handed the opposition its first-ever victory – were considered credible, international and Nigerian observers found that the 2019 polls fell short. The country is in the midst of several security crises.
Several states are due to hold elections before the big vote in 2023, including Anambra in the southeast and Osun and Ekiti in the southwest.
The News Nigeria (June 18, 2021): 18 parties jostle for Anambra Governorship election – INEC
Makua Adimora, Washington Post (June 17, 2021): Opinion: Nigeria’s Twitter ban harms people — and democracy
Samson Adenekan, Premium Times Nigeria (June 16, 2021): INEC fixes dates for Ekiti, Osun polls
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following two coups)
Mali has set presidential and legislative elections for February 27, 2022, following the August 2020 coup. In the coup, soldiers removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, dissolved parliament (which had just been elected in April, in elections marred by fraud and intimidation) and established a transitional government. Before that, there will be a constitutional referendum on October 31, 2021 and local and regional elections on December 26.
On May 25, Mali had another coup, but leaders have stated that the elections will remain on the calendar for 2022. However, the situation remains fluid.
France24 with AFP and AP (June 21, 2021): Car bomb targets France’s Barkhane force in Mali, several soldiers injured
Colum Lynch and Jack Detsch, Foreign Policy (June 18, 2021): Washington Scrambles France’s Mali Exit Strategy
AFP (June 16, 2021): France Arrests ‘High-Ranking’ Islamic State Fighter in Mali
AFP (June 15, 2021): UN: Mali coup leaders should not participate in polls
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due) and Local Elections: Overdue, no date set
Angola, which has never held free elections, and has been ruled by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a former armed group, since independence in 1976, is due to hold legislative elections in August 2022. In addition, the country is overdue to hold its first-ever local elections. These elections have already been delayed multiple times (most recently in September 2020), and no date has been set. Meanwhile, COVID-19 provides an excuse for additional delays. In short, it is unclear when – or whether – the local elections will actually happen. More
Venancio Rodrigues, Voice of America (June 21, 2021 – in Portuguese): Diaspora constituencies divide parties in the revision of the Angolan Constitution
DW (June 18, 2021): Angolan opposition: ‘People are eating animal feed’
Lesotho General Elections: September 2022
Pascalinah Kabi, Lesotho Times (June 16, 2022): Lesotho: Govt Cancels By-Elections, Orders IEC to Prepare for 2022 Polls
Chad Elections: By December 2022 (tentative, post-coup)
Chad held a presidential election on April 11, 2021. President Idriss Déby, seized power in a rebellion in 1990, won a sixth term. However, on April 20, he was killed by rebels.
Although the country holds elections, there has never been a change in power by a free or fair vote. Long-delayed long-delayed parliamentary elections had been set for October 24, 2021 and local elections for April 2022. Originally due in 2015, the legislative elections have been delayed multiple times. However, Deby’s death could lead to further delays – the military has said it plans to rule the country for 18 months. More
L’Arbre à Palabres, DW (June 17, 2021 – in French): For a peaceful transition in Chad…
Past Africa Elections
Somaliland Parliamentary and Local Elections: May 31, 2021
Somaliland held its long-overdue parliamentary and local elections on May 31, 2021. The two main opposition parties, Waddani and UCID, together won more seats in parliament than the governing Kulmiye party. Waddani and UCID will team up to choose a parliament speaker and on local councils (where they also won). Somaliland is a presidential system, so there’s no PM. President Muse Bihi Abdi from Kulmiye remains head of state. But it is significant for democracy that the opposition won the “midterms.”
Somaliland has de facto but not internationally-recognized independence from Somalia, and has a much more developed democracy, with direct elections. More
Michael Horton, Jamestown Foundation (June 18, 2021): Somaliland Elections Disrupt al-Shabaab’s Regional Expansion
Central African Republic Partial Legislative Elections and Runoffs: March 14, 2021
The Central African Republic (CAR) held presidential and partial legislative elections on December 27, 2020 in the midst of a worsening security situation. Rebels disrupted voting in some areas, so consequently, those constituencies held the first round of their legislative elections on March 14, 2021. In addition, some of the constituencies that did vote on December 27 held runoff elections for their legislators.
These elections took place in the context of a humanitarian crisis and a crisis of governance. Sectarian clashes have been taking place since 2013. Moreover, Russia has ramped up its political and military involvement in exchange for mining rights. More
AFP (June 18, 2021): France slams Russia’s ‘seizure of power’ in C. African Republic
Clarissa Ward, CNN (June 14, 2021 – video): Russian mercenaries accused of atrocities in the Central African Republic
Côte d’Ivoire Parliamentary Elections: March 6, 2021 and Presidential Election: October 31, 2021
Côte d’Ivoire just completed a major election cycle that began in turbulent fashion when incumbent president Alasanne Ouattara sought and won a controversial third term. The opposition boycotted the presidential election. Protests followed, as well as arrests of opposition members.
However, during the March parliamentary elections, the situation calmed down a bit. Following discussions and the release of some opposition figures, the opposition participated in the legislative elections.
Former president Laurent Gbagbo cast a long shadow over the recent election cycle. He had been tried by the International Criminal Court following violence surrounding his refusal to accept his loss of the 2010 election. Gbagbo was ultimately acquitted, but an appeal against the acquittal kept him in Belgium until this year. He now plans to return home in June. More
AFP (June 17, 2021): Ivory Coast ex-leader Gbagbo heads home after war crimes acquittal
Florence Richard, The Africa Report (June 17, 2021): Côte d’Ivoire: Return of Laurent Gbagbo brings both excitement and fear
Uganda General Elections: January 14, 2021
Uganda held presidential and legislative elections on January 14, 2021. President Yoweri Museveni has held power since 1986, but this time faced possibly his biggest challenge yet in the form of 37-year-old pop star Bobi Wine. Following the elections, the government launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition. More
Charles Onyango-Obbo, The East African (June 21, 2021): Museveni keeps Uganda guessing on his preferred ‘strong’ successor
Regional Analysis
Nadège Rolland, Lowy Institute’s The Interpreter (June 21, 2021): The battle for Africa: A US led coalition of Western democracies versus a China-led circle of developing friends.
Nic Cheeseman, The Africa Report (June 17, 2021): Smaller African states do not necessarily make better democracies
Africa Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Ethiopia General Elections: June 21, 2021
Mauritius Local Elections: June 2021 (due – delay likely)
Sao Tome and Principe Presidential Election: July 18, 2021
Zambia Presidential, Legislative, and Local Elections: August 12, 2021
Somalia Indirect Presidential and Legislative Elections: By August 2021 (due, following agreement)
Cabo Verde Presidential Election: October 17, 2021
South Africa Municipal Elections: October 27, 2021
Nigeria, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election: November 6, 2021
Gambia Presidential Election: December 4, 2021
Angola Local Elections: Overdue, might possibly happen in 2021
Senegal Local Elections: January 23, 2021
Mali Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 27, 2022 (following coup)
Gambia Parliamentary Elections: April 2022 (due)
Burkina Faso Local Elections: May 2022 (due)
Lesotho Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Republic of Congo Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Senegal Legislative Elections: July 2022 (due)
Kenya Presidential and Legislative Elections: August 9, 2022
Angola Legislative Elections: August 2022 (due)
Sao Tome and Principe Parliamentary Elections: October 2022 (due)
Equatorial Guinea Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
Sudan General Elections: December 2022 (planned – delays possible)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Americas This Week: June 19, 2021
Last Updated: July 5, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 19, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in the Americas, usually posted on Saturdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Americas Elections
Argentina Provincial Elections in Misiones: June 6, 2021 and Jujuy: June 27, 2021, followed by Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021 (postponed from October)
Although most of the country’s 23 provinces hold their elections at the same time as presidential elections (which last took place in 2019 and are due again in 2023), a few are due to hold elections this year, ahead of midterm legislative elections due this fall.
Argentina’s 2021 elections – both provincial and legislative – are happening in the context of an economic crisis, which the leftist government and COVID-19 have exacerbated.
Rosario Ayerdi, Buenos Aires Times (June 19, 2021): Cristina Fernández de Kirchner spearheads midterms campaign – with an eye on libertarian-leaning youth
Haiti Parliamentary Elections: September 19, 2021 and Presidential Election: Due in November 2021 (delays possible)
Haiti plans to hold long-overdue legislative elections on September 19, 2021, and also has a presidential election due later this year. However, the country is currently in a political crisis related to allegations of fraud followed Haiti’s presidential 2015 election. The international community, including the United States government, has called on Haiti’s officials to set a date for elections and end the crisis.
Haiti had planned to hold a constitutional referendum on June 27, although the United States has raised concerns that it would just cause more political turmoil while helping President Jovenel Moïse consolidate power. The opposition has called for protests against the referendum, which it deems unconstitutional, and a boycott. Ultimately, Moïse decided to postpone the referendum indefinitely. More
UN News (June 17, 2021): Political impasse in Haiti, amid rising humanitarian needs, ahead of crucial elections
Chase Harrison, AS/COA (June 17, 2021): Constitutional Crisis and Crime Have Haiti on Edge: President Jovenel Moïse’s constitutional referendum stalled, but he’s found other ways to consolidate political power amid calls for his resignation.
Paraguay Municipal Elections: October 10, 2021
Paraguay holds local elections on October 10, 2021. On June 20, many of the political parties held primary elections. The federal government is led by President Mario Abdo Benítez from the conservative Colorado Party, which also won a majority in the lower house of the legislature in the 2018 elections (no party holds a majority in the Senate). Colorado has been in power most of the time since the 1950s.
Paraguay returned to democracy in 1989, following the collapse of the 35-year dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, but a number of issues remain. As a result, it is rated Partly Free by Freedom House.
The Rio Times (June 20, 2021): Paraguayan parties start elections for candidates for the municipal elections
Nicaragua General Elections: November 7, 2021
Nicaragua holds general elections on November 7, 2021. President Daniel Ortega, who has been in power for 20 years, will seek another term, and under his rule, Nicaragua has become increasingly authoritarian, with rule of law and fundamental freedoms under assault.
Several opposition candidates have been arrested, including Cristiana Chamorro, seen by many as the opposition’s best chance of ousting Ortega (in fact, her mother, Violeta Chamorro, beat Ortega in the 1990 election, becoming Nicaragua’s first – and currently only – female president and ending 11 years of Sandinista rule).
Diego Oré, Reuters (June 17, 2021): Veering from democracy, Nicaragua defies U.S. rebukes
Aline Hipolito, Rio Times (June 16, 2021): U.S. stresses that there are no conditions for “free elections” in Nicaragua
Claudia Torrens, AP (June 15, 2021): OAS condemns Nicaragua’s pursuit of political opponents
Wilfredo Miranda, The Guardian (June 15, 2021): Nicaragua rounds up president’s critics in sweeping pre-election crackdown
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Chile holds presidential and legislative elections in November (with presidential primaries on July 4). These elections follow the May 2021 local elections, and importantly, elections to the Constitutional Assembly.
Incumbent president Sebastian Pinera, from the center-right Chile Vamos coalition, is not running for another term. He currently has low approval ratings, posing a challenge for his party’s candidate (who will be chosen in the July primary election). Moreover, the conservatives failed to secure even one third of the Constitutional Assembly.
These elections are taking place in the context of a year of protests and riots, including violent looting, arson, and vandalism. Furthermore, an intense debate over the new constitution continues. More
Al Jazeera (June 20, 2021): Chile to begin drafting new constitution next month
Stratfor (June 16, 2021): Chile: Congress Reinstates Mandatory Voting for Most Elections
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022 and Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Colombia is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in spring 2022. Conservative Ivan Duque, elected president in 2018, is constitutionally barred from running for re-election. One of the frontrunners to replace him is former left-wing guerilla Gustavo Petro, who placed second in 2018. The country has been rocked by riots in recent weeks. The proximate cause was a tax bill, but the protests have grown – and grown violent – and dozens have died.
Sergio Guzmán, Foreign Policy (June 20, 2021): Solutions for Colombia’s Social Unrest Are in Short Supply
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
Brazil holds general elections in October 2022. Jair Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist firebrand president, is up for re-election. Former president Lula da Silva, himself a populist firebrand of the left-wing variety, will run against him. The country remains deeply polarized between right and left, although some are searching for a third candidate to challenge both Bolsonaro and Lula. More
Bryan Harris, Financial Times (June 17, 2021): Brazil’s Covid inquiry puts Bolsonaro on the back foot
Claudia Horn, Jacobin (June 15, 2021): Belém’s Left-Wing Mayor Could Have a Winning Formula for the Brazilian Left
The Economist (June 15, 2021 – podcast): “This is the clearest proof yet Bolsonaro is engaging in pork-barrel politics”—patronage in Brazil
Past Americas Elections
Peru Presidential Runoff: June 6, 2021
Peru held general elections for April 11, 2021. These elections are coming on the heels of snap legislative elections that took place on January 26, 2020, and in the context of political turmoil – including the impeachment of President Martín Vizcarra and the subsequent “week of three presidents” – and an economic crisis brought on by COVID-19.
The presidential runoff pitted self-described Marxist Pedro Castillo against right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who is currently in prison for various crimes (Keiko is also currently facing criminal charges). Castillo came out of nowhere to win the first round. However, none of the 18 candidates received more votes than the number of blank ballots cast – a sign of voters’ deep frustration.
It appears that Castillo won the runoff (by a margin of less than one percent). Fujimori is alleging fraud, but international observers largely dismissed that allegation. Nonetheless, an official winner won’t be declared until the courts rule on Fujimori’s claims. More
Brendan O’Boyle, Americas Quarterly (June 21, 2021): The “Shadowy Figure” Behind Peru’s Likely Next President
Reuters (June 19, 2021): Both sides in Peru’s contested election double down in weekend rallies
Charles Lane, Washington Post (June 15, 2021): Opinion: The tragic decay of a Latin American success story
Mexico Legislative, Gubernatorial, and Local Elections: June 6, 2021
Mexico held high-stakes midterm legislative elections, as well as gubernatorial elections in 15 of Mexico’s 31 states, and local elections, on June 6, 2021. In total, more than 21,000 offices are at stake – the biggest elections in Mexico’s history.
These elections were a key test for left-wing populist firebrand Andrés Manuel López Obrador (frequently called AMLO) ahead of the 2024 presidential election, and he largely lost – his MORENA party did not get its majority in the legislature, and although MORENA won most of the state governorships, it lost control of most areas of Mexico City. AMLO, who has been governing in an increasingly authoritarian manner, wants to transform Mexico by jettisoning the market economy, but these election results will make it harder for him to do that.
Meanwhile, political violence is on the rise, with at least 88 politicians killed and hundreds of candidates targeted. More
Mexico News Daily (June 19, 2021): Women in majority in 10 state legislatures, elected mayor in 25 major cities
Caran Zissis, World Politics Review (June 18, 2021): The Real Winner of Mexico’s Midterm Elections Wasn’t on the Ballot
Vanessa Rubio, Americas Quarterly (June 16, 2021): AMLO Already Got What He Wanted: The loss of his legislative supermajority will not reverse the Mexican president’s progress toward his ultimate goal: the expansion of state power.
Elena Reina, El País (June 14, 2021): The Mariana Rodríguez formula: how to get a candidate elected through social media ‘likes’
Curaçao Parliamentary Elections: March 19, 2021
Curaçao held parliamentary elections on March 19, 2021. Curaçao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has full autonomy over internal affairs, while the Dutch government handles foreign and defense policy, although the Netherlands periodically intervenes in Curaçao’s politics. More
Curaçao Chronicle (June 14, 2021): New Prime Minister of Curaçao Gilmar Pisas wants ‘less Kingdom’
El Salvador Legislative and Local Elections: February 28, 2021
El Salvador held legislative and local elections on February 28, 2021. Allies of populist president Nayib Bukele won in a landslide, allowing him to consolidate his hold on the country with a legislative majority. Critics note growing authoritarianism. More
Marcos Aleman, AP (June 14, 2021): USAID chief speaks of fragility of democracy in El Salvador
Bolivia Local Elections: March 7 and April 11, 2021
Bolivia held regional and municipal elections on March 7, 2021, and some races, including four gubernatorial races, held runoffs on April 11.
These followed a rerun of the 2019 annulled general elections that took place on October 18, 2020 in which socialist Luis Arce won the presidency. Leftist firebrand Evo Morales has returned to the country to lead his party, although apparently not every member of his party loves him. Opposition candidates won the mayoral elections in 8 out of 10 of Bolivia’s biggest cities. These elections happened amid political tension over the arrest of former interim president Jeanine Anez. More
Reuters (June 16, 2021): Bolivia opposition leader Mesa slams widening coup probe
Fernando Molina, El País (June 16, 2021 – in Spanish): Bolivia wants to bring former presidents Jeanine Áñez and Lenín Moreno before an international court
Americas Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Aruba Parliamentary Elections: June 25, 2021
Argentina Jujuy Provincial Elections: June 27, 2021
Argentina Salta Provincial Elections: August 15, 2021 (postponed from July 4, 2021)
Haiti Presidential and Legislative Elections, plus delayed constitutional referendum: September 26, 2021
Paraguay Municipal Elections: October 10, 2021
Saint Lucia General Elections: October 12, 2021
Nicaragua Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 7, 2021
Argentina Midterm Legislative Elections: November 14, 2021
Chile Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
Venezuela Regional and Local Elections: November 21, 2021
Honduras Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 28, 2021
Guyana Local Elections: Due in 2021
Costa Rica Presidential and Legislative Elections: February 6, 2022
Colombia Legislative Elections: March 13, 2022
Colombia Presidential Election: May 29, 2022
Bahamas Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Brazil Presidential and Legislative Elections: October 2, 2022
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Asia This Week: June 18, 2021
Last Updated: June 26, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 18, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Asia and the Pacific, usually posted on Fridays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Asia/Pacific Elections
Macau Legislative Elections: September 12, 2021
Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, having reverted from Portuguese control to Chinese control in 1999. The main industry is gaming, with a casino sector seven times the size of that of Las Vegas. The legislature is dominated by pro-Beijing politicians, who hold 29 out of the 33 seats, with pro-democracy politicians holding the remaining four.
Daniel Rice, Foreign Brief (June 19, 2021): Macau to close representative office in Taiwan
Nelson Moura, Macau Business (June 15, 2021): 22 electoral lists submitted for direct 2021 Legislative Assembly elections
Japan General Elections: On or Before October 22, 2021
Japan is due to hold general elections by October 22, 2021, but they could happen earlier. In addition, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who replaced Shinzo Abe last year, faces a leadership contest in his conservative Liberal Democratic Party ahead of the general elections.
Eric Johnston, Japan Times (June 17, 2021): Caught in the middle? Komeito and the China-Japan relationship
Donna Weeks, The Conversation (June 14, 2021): Under pressure on the Olympics, Japan’s prime minister is saying little and hoping for a political lifesaver
Nepal Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 12 and 19, 2021
Nepal will hold snap elections in November 2021, following a protracted political crisis. For background: in December 2020, Nepal’s prime minister decided to dissolve parliament and call for new elections. However, on February 23, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, cancelling the snap elections. The government subsequently lost a confidence vote, sparking snap polls. More
PTI (June 18, 2021): Nepal House dissolution case: President Bhandari says Supreme Court cannot overturn her decision: President Bhandari, at the recommendation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, dissolved the lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.
Hong Kong Legislative Elections: December 19, 2021
Hong Kong plans to hold elections to the Legislative Council on December 19, 2021, after more than a year’s delay. These elections are taking place in the context of Beijing’s determination to gut Hong Kong’s democracy. More
The Guardian (June 19, 2021): Two years on since Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests – in pictures
Benedict Rogers, The Diplomat (June 18, 2021): Apple Daily Raid Is the Latest Blow to Hong Kong’s Freedom: The world’s democracies must take action after the latest assault on press freedom.
Radio Free Asia (June 17, 2021): Interview: ‘We Have to Keep Going, If We Want Better For Hong Kong’
Selina Cheng, Hong Kong Free Press (June 17, 2021): Some 170 pro-democracy district councillors face disqualification under new Hong Kong law – reports
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
Five Indian states are due to hold elections in early 2022. These elections will be a key test for the national parties – and PM Narendra Modi.
IANS (June 20, 2021): India gears up for robot campaigners in 2022 Assembly elections
The Economist (June 19, 2021): India’s prime minister is down but not out
Shan Li and Vibhuti Agarwal, Wall Street Journal (June 14, 2021): Covid-19 Punctures Narendra Modi’s Aura as Some Supporters Sour on India’s Strongman
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
South Korea holds its presidential election on March 9, 2021. Recently, the conservative opposition won special mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan by a landslide, just a year after President Moon Jae-in’s center-left Democratic Party swept the legislature. Moreover, Moon’s approval rating is tanking.
Jung Da-min, Korea Times (June 15, 2021): Main opposition enjoys high support rate after electing young leader
Mitch Shin, The Diplomat (June 15, 2021): Moon’s Last Chance on North Korea
Philippines Presidential Election: May 9, 2022
In 2016, populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency, claiming to be an outsider. He has governed with an iron fist. Although he is banned from seeking a second term (as Philippines presidents are not able to seek re-election), critics fear that he will seek to consolidate illiberalism in the form of a handpicked successor. Meanwhile, a broad coalition of opposition figures have formed 1Sambayan (One Nation) in the hopes of defeating Duterte’s allies with a united front.
Reuters (June 16, 2021): ‘Good idea’ – Philippines Duterte mulls vice president bid
Alvin Camba, Carnegie Endowment (June 15, 2021): How Duterte Strong-Armed Chinese Dam-Builders But Weakened Philippine Institutions
Papua New Guinea General Elections: June/July 2022 (due)
Papua New Guinea is due to hold general elections in June or July 2022.
Anthony Regan, Lowy Institute’s The Interpreter (June 18, 2021): Bougainville independence: Pressure for PNG agreement builds
Past Asia/Pacific Elections
Mongolia Presidential Election: June 9, 2021
Mongolia, a free though imperfect democracy, held its presidential election on June 9, 2021, following parliamentary elections in June 2020 and local elections in October 2020. Former PM Ukhnaa Khurelsukh won in a landslide, further consolidating the power of the Mongolian People’s Party (which was the ruling party during the communist era). MPP also has a majority in the legislature.
It was a nasty campaign in a polarized environment. Incumbent Khaltmaagiin Battulga from the center-right Democratic Party was not able to seek another term following a controversial rule change pushed by MPP. Now that MPP has both the presidency and the legislature, there are concerns about democratic backsliding. More
The Economist (June 19, 2021): Mongolia’s ruling party secures a thumping victory: It snatches the presidency from a bickering opposition
Samoa General Elections: April 9, 2021
Samoa held general elections on April 9, 2021, and the post-election situation has been rather eventful. A new opposition party, Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST, “Faith in the one true God”), posed a new challenge to the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), which has been in power since 1982. Ultimately, both FAST and HRPP got equal numbers of seats, with an independent MP breaking the tie and agreeing to support FAST. However, the plot continues to thicken as HRPP was given an additional female MP since the party did not meet its quota for women.
As a result of the deadlock, the prime minister has called new elections for May 21, but a court decided to block the new elections, reinstate the results, and overturn the decision to give HRPP an additional MP. As a result, FAST was declared the winner of the elections and Fiame Naomi Mataʻafa was sworn in as prime minister – the first woman to hold the office. However, HRPP has not conceded, and Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi (sometimes called the Trump of Samoa) claims he is still the prime minister.
These elections took place in the context of controversy over proposed changes to the county’s constitutional framework and judiciary, involving questions of Samoan identity, as well as potential geopolitical shifts away from China. More
Radio New Zealand (June 15, 2021): Samoa’s FAST wins first disputed seat of April election
Tibet Government-in-Exile Presidential Election: January 3 and April 11, 2021
Tibetans in exile around the world cast their ballots for Sikyong, the president of the Central Tibetan Administration (the formal name of the government-in-exile), which is headquartered in Dharamshala, India. The first round, with eight candidates, was in January, alongside legislative elections. In the second round, former speaker of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering defeated Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang, the Dalai Lama’s representative to North America.
Tibet itself is currently ruled by China and is among the least free countries in the world. However, Tibetans have been developing a democratic system in exile.
Ashwini Bhatia, AP (June 17, 2021): AP Interview: Tibet exile leader hopes to resume China talks
Burma General Elections: November 8, 2020
Burma, also called Myanmar, held general elections on November 8, 2020. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. However, on February 1, the military staged a coup, claiming election fraud (despite a lack of evidence). Protests against the coup continue. The military claims it will hold new elections will take place within two years. More
Nandita Haksar, Scroll.in (June 19, 2021): Aung San Suu Kyi turns 76: How did ‘Burma’s Gandhi’ fall from grace in the eyes of the world?
Radio Free Asia (June 18, 2021): Bomb Explodes at Headquarters of Pro-Military Party in Myanmar
BBC (June 14, 2021): Aung San Suu Kyi: Trial of ousted Myanmar leader begins
Vanuatu General Elections: March 19-20, 2020
Vanuatu held general elections in March 2020.
Catherine Graue and Evan Wasuka, ABC News Australia (June 18, 2021): Vanuatu political crisis sees Prime Minister Bob Loughman lose his parliamentary seat
Asia/Pacific Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Macau Legislative Elections: September 12, 2021
Japan Parliamentary Elections: By October 2021 (snap elections possible)
Timor-Leste Municipal Elections: October 2021 (due)
Nepal Snap Parliamentary Elections: November 12 and 19, 2021
Tonga General Elections: By November 30, 2021
New Caledonia Independence Referendum: December 12, 2021
Hong Kong Legislative Council Elections: December 19, 2021
Sri Lanka Early Provincial Elections: Late 2021 (proposed)
India, State Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand: February/March 2022 (due)
South Korea Presidential Election: March 9, 2022
Timor-Leste Presidential Election: March 2022 (due)
Philippines Presidential and Legislative Elections: May 9, 2022
Australia Parliamentary Elections: May 2022 (due – snap elections possible)
Papua New Guinea Parliamentary Elections: June 2022 (due)
Cambodia Local Elections: June 5, 2022
Nauru Parliamentary Elections: August 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Himachal Pradesh: October 2022 (due)
Fiji Parliamentary Elections: November 2022 (due)
India, State Elections in Gujarat: December 2022 (due)
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Eurasia This Week: June 17, 2021
Last Updated: June 26, 2021 by 21votes Leave a Comment
June 17, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Armenia is holding snap parliamentary elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Pre-election polls suggested a close contest Pashinyan acting prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and former president Robert Kocharyan. Pashinyan became prime minister following the 2018 pro-democracy “Velvet Revolution.” However, he mostly maintained Armenia’s pro-Russia geopolitical stance. Kocharyan takes an openly pro-Kremlin stance. Therefore, the vote probably won’t result in any major geopolitical shifts.
AFP (June 20, 2021): Armenian PM wins snap election as rival alleges fraud: Nikol Pashinyan’s party gained over 50% of the vote but the opposition contested the result, alleging fraud
Euronews, AP, and AFP (June 18, 2021): In Armenia, a bitter election in the shadow of a lost war
Reuters (June 18, 2021): Election in Armenia, meant to end political crisis, is too close to call
Arshaluis Mghdesyan, Instiute for War and Peace Reporting (June 18, 2021): Russia Looms Large Over Armenian Elections: Security consequences of Karabakh war may reverse the country’s pro-Western drift.
Joshua Kucera, Eurasianet (June 18, 2021): Russia sitting out Armenian elections: While top challenger Robert Kocharyan is eagerly pro-Russia, the Kremlin has gotten comfortable with the incumbent, Nikol Pashinyan.
Rayhan Demytrie, BBC (June 18, 2021): Armenia’s war defeat prompts bitter vote on rebuilding country
Ani Mejlumyan, Eurasianet (June 17, 2021): Armenia’s ex-president seeks to lead again: Robert Kocharyan is trying for a unique feat in the post-Soviet space: a return to power. And he’s risen to the top of the heap of the many opposition contenders vying in the June 20 elections.
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Moldova is holding snap parliamentary elections on July 11, which pro-Europe center-right president Maia Sandu had been trying to call for months. Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent, in the November 2020 presidential election However, no party currently has a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies are outnumbered by pro-Russian parties). The resulting political instability was reaching crisis levels. More
Madalin Necsutu, Balkan Insight (June 17, 2021): Vladimir Voronin – Soviet Relic Eying Fresh Start in Politics
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Russia is due to hold parliamentary elections by September 19, 2021. Russian elections are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, the opposition has been making some gains in recent regional elections, helped by opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote,” a campaign of tactical voting, in which they developed a list of candidates the best chance of beating Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. Consequently, the Kremlin has launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition, including imprisoning Navalny. More
Reuters (June 19, 2021): Russia’s Putin tries to give ruling party a pre-election boost with spending promises
AFP (June 18, 2021): Russia Staggers Parliamentary Elections to Limit Covid Spread
Georgia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Georgia is due to hold local elections in October 2021, and they are particularly important because – as a result of a deal to resolve the political crisis following last year’s parliamentary elections – they could spark new parliamentary elections if the ruling Georgian Dream party wins less than 43 percent of the proportional vote. The political climate is tense, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. More
Civil.ge (June 16, 2021): ISFED Releases Pre-Election Period Report Ahead of Local Polls
Civil.ge (June 15, 2021): GD’s Kobakhidze Talks Gakharia Controversies, Local Elections, Ivanishvili
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: Fall 2021 (expected)
Kyrgyzstan’s leader has proposed re-running the parliamentary elections that took place in October 2020. Those elections and allegations of fraud led to political turmoil, followed by a snap presidential election in January 2021 and a constitutional referendum (alongside local elections) in April 2021. The new constitution, which passed, grants the president vastly expanded powers. Its critics have dubbed it the “Khanstitution.” The political climate was tense heading into the October 2020 parliamentary elections. It subsequently exploded following said elections. More
RFE/RL (June 17, 2021): Close Ally Of Kyrgyz Ex-President Detained On Suspicion Of ‘Illegal Enrichment’
Past Eurasia Elections
Belarus Presidential Election: August 9, 2020
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko declared victory. However, the opposition declared that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had in fact won. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in protest to demand free and fair elections, even in the face of assault and arrest by security forces. Protests continue. More
Jonathan Chew, The Dispatch (June 15, 2021): What’s Next for Belarus?
Belsat (June 14, 2021): G7 leaders call for new presidential elections in Belarus
Eurasia Elections Coming Up in 2021 and 2022
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Georgia Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections Take 2: Fall 2021 (expected)
Uzbekistan Presidential Election: October 24, 2021
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.